The Julia Hartley-Brewer Show

Lord Daniel Hannan and Sir Iain Duncan Smith on Andy Burnham’s vague route to No10, Nigel Farage’s funding row, Britain’s broken welfare state, Trump’s NATO ultimatum and why Labour risks becoming the biggest appeasement government since the 1930s — plus England’s World Cup thriller and the row over who really pays for our politics

Keir Starmer’s premiership may be collapsing into its final act… but Julia Hartley-Brewer asks whether the man almost certain to replace him, Andy Burnham, is facing anything like the scrutiny he deserves.

Lord Daniel Hannan warns the media may be repeating the mistake it made with Starmer: letting a would-be prime minister glide into power on warm words, vague promises and slogans about “change” — without asking what he would actually do.

Burnham talks localism, council houses and transformation, but Hannan says the real tests are brutal: will he tear up the regulations, judicial reviews and eco-rules that stop Britain building homes, infrastructure and energy projects? And will he genuinely decentralise power — including giving councils real responsibility over welfare?

Sir Iain Duncan Smith is even blunter, saying Burnham’s pitch is so vague that even students are asking what he actually means. “No second chance”, “change”, “localism” — but where is the detail on tax, welfare, industry, housing, net zero or defence?

Also: Nigel Farage faces mounting scrutiny over wealthy backers, including a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and support from George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster and long-time friend.

Hannan says the row is damaging Reform’s claim to be different — but warns Farage may be hoping for a hostile ruling so he can cast himself as the victim of an establishment stitch-up. Duncan Smith says the answer is simple: declare everything, apologise if needed, and stop giving opponents ammunition.

Julia asks whether big money has too much influence in British politics altogether — and whether any donor really gives millions without expecting something in return.

Meanwhile, Britain’s welfare bill comes under fire. Hannan warns the country cannot continue spending vastly more on working-age welfare than on national defence, while Duncan Smith says the system is now riddled with perverse incentives and political cowardice.

And as Keir Starmer heads to what may be his final NATO summit, Donald Trump is demanding European allies spend 5% of GDP on defence. Duncan Smith says Trump is right: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are forming a hostile axis, Britain is falling behind even Greece and Poland, and Labour’s defence uplift is unfunded fantasy.

His verdict: Britain risks going down as the biggest appeasement government since the 1930s.

Plus: England’s dramatic World Cup win in Mexico, whether sporting glory can ever really rescue a prime minister, and why national morale may not be enough to save Starmer now.

Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM.

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